Roofing shingle



-Oct. 2, 1928.

W. A. HARRIS ROOFING SHINGLE Ina/042702; 2% dim/77 1M,

Filed Feb. 27, 1925 ing previously s'hingled roofs.

- Patented a. 2, 1928.

UNITED STA TIES PATENT 0mm.

A. HARRIS, OF BOSTON, HASSACIEUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FLINTKOTE OOMFANY, OI BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

a 'nborn'wc Samoan.

Ap noauon'med res me, 1925. Ma No. 11,968.

This invention relatesto flexible prepared roofing shingles such as are prepared from a flexible sheet comprising a fibrous foundation of rag or asbestos felt, saturated with asphalt or other waterproof bituminous composition, coated with a layer of relatively high melting oint asphalt, e. g, blown a halt, and suraced with a layer of partlally embedded crushed slate or other grit. The object of the present invention is to produce such shingles in a form by which a maximum area of roof surface may be covered by shingles requiring a minimum area of material; by-which the lower or exposed pertions of the shingles maybe interlocked with laterally adjacent shingles'in any one of a plurality of ways to produce different patterns on the roof, certainof such ways resulting in larger and smaller overlapping areas; by which said shingles may be accurately placed and spaced apart on the roof or other surface to be covered; by which such shingles may be produced from the initial sheet of roofing material substantially without any waste; and by which other advanta are attained as will subsequently be po nted out. On the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents how the shingles may he cut or formed from a sheet of roofing ma- 3Q terial.

Figure 2 represents one of the shingles. Figure 3 illustrates the appearance of the shingles when laid and interlocked on a roof by a method giving the larger overlapping area. i I I Figure 4; illustrates one of these shingles with its lower interlocking end'underfolded. Figure 5 illustrates one'of ,the shingles with its lower interlocking end underfolded on its transverse center line. I

Figures 6 and 7 are edge views of the shingles of Figures 4 and 5 respectively.

Figure 8 shows the way in whichthe shingle shown in Figure 4 is laid. 45. Figure 9illustrates the appearance of the shingle shown in Figure 5 when laid.

Figure 10 illustrates the appearance of the shingles interlocked on a roof by the method giving the smaller overlapping area.

Fig. 11 re resents a shingle having holes in the ends 0 the lateral slots. While shin les embodying the present invention may e placed on newly-built. roof structures they are of especial value'in coverclined and relatively short intermediate edges shingles with the narrow part of one shingle Each shingle as shown in Figure 2 may be considered as having an upper portion 1 and a lower portion 2 W iich are of equal len hs, the upper portlon being rectangular an the lower portion being approximately rectanan gular with the exception to be noted. The shingle has straight parallel upper and lower edges 3 and 4. The upper portion has parallel side edges 5, 5 and the lower rtion has parallel side edges 6, 6 lying wit 'n and parallel e5 tothe upper side edges 5, 5. The width of the lower portion is thusless than that of the upper portion and there are shoulders 7 7 and 9, 9 spaced from one another by preferably in- 8 between edges 5, 5 and 6, 6, which bound an intermediate small trapezoidal area between the upper and lower portions. The pa r of shoulders 7 and 9'on each side of the shingle as shown are in stepped relation and preferably inclose juxtaposition so that they may together be accurately described as. a double shoulder. The shoulders 7 and 9 may be parallel to edges 3 and 4,. or either upwardly 'or downwardly inclined. The transverse median line of the shingle corresponds to the transverse median line of the intermediate area. Extending laterally from the extremity 1 of the lower portion 2 at its lower corners are two tabs 12, 12, formed by cutting notches with the upper edges 10 thereof forming symmetrical angles with the lower edges 11,which, if desired, may be horizontal,.th.ough preferably upwardly and outwardly inclined. These tabs preferably are of a'width'equal to the perpendicular distance between the shoulders 7 and 9, and are of a length equal to 3h; perpendicular distance between edges 5 an v v In producing the sheet of roofing material of the character hereinbefore described, the

' sheet is slit longitudinally into strips by a longitudinal cut a-a,as in Figure 1, 'so that each strip in widthis equal to the length of anindividual shingle. 'Each strip is cut transversely of its length on lines 6-4) and c-c alternately to form a side edge of the shingle, the lines of severancebeing such that the portions 6 0, 6 0 divide each strip into f lying next to the wide part of the succeeding shingle. Notches arethen cut in the shingles near the extremities .ofthe narrow portions. By this method of forming the strips there 4 is substantially no waste material. Of course the sheet may be slit either before or after. it

is cut transversely, or theslitting and the 4 transverse cutting may be accomplished s1- multaneously. V l i a The shingles are laid in courses with the narrow lower portions extending downwardly from the wider-portions, as shown, in Figure 3. They are widely spaced laterally so that in each course the lower portions 2, 2 of the two laterally adjacent shingles are separated by a space which'rnay be equal to the narrow portion of a shingle, minus twice the lateral extension of the tabs 12, 12. When the first course is thus laid and secured in place by nails or fasteners, as at 13, the next course is' applied. In so doing,'the lateral .:tabs 12, 12 of one shingle are inserted beneath the edges 6, 6 of two adjacent already laid shingles and the shingle being laid is drawn upwardly until the up er edges 11, 11 of the tabs engage the shoul ers .7, 7 of the previously laid shin les at the reentrant angles formed by the s oulders 7 and the side edges 6. In this way' each shingle of one course is interlocked at its lower end with the middle portion of two laterally adjacent shinglesof the previously laid lower course.

' When several courses have'been' laid and the roof surface is completely covered, the lower narrow porton of each shingle laterally overlaps the wide upper portion of two laterally a J acent shingles of the next lower course,

D and longitudinally overlaps the, middle portion of an aligned shingle mthe second lower course.

area is covered by 168.7 square feet of roofing material formed into shingles as herein described; I may also lay the shingles as follows 2- The shingles are laid with narrow lower portions extending downwardly from the wider ortions, as shown in Figure 10. They are widely spaced laterally so that in each a course the lower portions are separated-by. a

space which may be equal to the narrow portion of the shingle minus twice the length of the shoulders 9. When the first course is thus laid and secured in place, the next course is applied, In so doing, the lateral tabs 12, 12 are inserted beneath the inclined inner edges 8, 8 of two adjacent already laid shingles, and the shingle is positioned so that the upper edges 11, 11 of the tabs 12, 12 engage the shoulders 9, 9 of the previously laid shingles at the reentrant angles formed by.

the shoulders andthe inclined edges In this way each shingle of one'course 1S mterlocked at its lower end withthe middle or-v tion of two laterally adjacent shingles o the ,previously laid lower courset'o form a different pattern on the roof.- After several courses have been laid and'the roof surface is completely covered, the lower portion of each shingle laterally overlaps the wide upper portion of the two lateral adjacent shingles of the next lower. course and longitudinally .overlaps the middle portionof analigned shiIngle in the second lower course,

n Figure2 I have shown by the shaded area eythe entire portion ofthe upper end of the shingle overlappedand covered by adjacent shingles in the next two-higher courses by this method of laying. As aresult of this construction, assuming that each shingle is of the dimensions previously stated, square feet of root surface is covered byapproximately 145 s uare feet of'roofin material formed with s ingles as'describe I find it desirable in some cases to fold back and under the lower end of the shingle on the alignment with the upper edges 11 of the lateral tabs 12 as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The flap or .under. folded portion 14 maybe cemented to the under sideof theshingle by as halt or the like, as indicated inFigure 7. fien the shingles, folded as'shown in .Fi ure 6, are laid, the laterally extending ta s engage the shoulders 7, 7 of the laterally adj acent shingles and form a pattern on the roof slightly different from the others heretofore described, as shown -iniFigure 8. or I may fold back and under the lower-end of the shingle on the-central transverse line e, e of the tabs, as shown in Figures 2, "5 and 7.

They may be laid in the same manner as the shingles shown in Figure 8; and the pattern formed on'the roof as shown in'Figure 9 is slightly different from that shown .in Figure 8. The upper layer of the tab as folded is .then preferably cut away so that a single thickness only engages beneath the adjacent shingles. "This under folding doubles the thickness of the butt ends of these shingles,

presenting a. more pleasing and substantial appearance to the roof and makes a stiffening element which holds the shingles tighter against'the roof surface, 1 Y

In place of the slots to .define the tabs 12, slits 15 extending inwardly from the shingle edges to perforations 16 may be'employed, as shown in Figure 11. f

In any event, the shingles when laid form lateral courses of symmetrical figures which extend from the peak to the eaves of the roof.

Each shingle is secured by nails which are concealed and at its lower corners is inter-' locked with the shingles of the lower course; A maximum areaof roof surface is'covered and a(ileqlmtely P t d ga n t the eather 90 transverse line d, d (Figure 2),.which is in lower course.

by shingles requiring a minimum quantity of material.

Inasmuch as the shingles are flexible, the laterally projecting tabs may easily be bent below the plane or bod of the shingle to lie beneath the laterally a acent shingles of the What I claim is 1. A flexible roofing shingle having parallel ends and parallel sides, the upper portion which is substantially one half the length of the shingle being wider than the lower portion, and defined therefrom by a air of shoulders on each side parallel to t e ends, one shoulder extending inwardly from the side edge of the upper portion to a short intermediate edge and the other shoulder extending inwardly from the intermediate edge to the side edge of the lower portion, and the lower portion having notches out near its extremity to form tabs laterally extending a distance equal to the perpendicular distance between the side edges ofthe upper and lower portions.

2. A flexible roofing shingle having parallel ends and parallel sides, the upper portion which is substantially one half the length of the shingle being wider than the lower portion, and defined therefrom by a air of shoulders on each side parallel to t e ends, one shoulder extending inwardly from the side edge of the'upper portion to a short intermediate edge and the other shoulderextending inwardly from the intermediate edge to the side edge of the lower portion, and the lower portion havin notches out near its extremity to form ta s of a height equal to the perpendicular distance between the parallel shoulders of each pair thereof.

3. A flexible roofing shingle having paral lel ends and parallel sides, the upper portion which is substantially one half the length of the shingle being wider than the lower portion, and defined therefrom by a pair of shoulders on each side parallel to the ends, one shoulder extending inwardly fromthe side edge of the upper portion to a short inter-' mediate edge and the other shoulder extending inwardly from the intermediate edge to the side edge of the lower portion, and the lower portion having notches cut near its extremity to form tabs laterally extending a distance equal to the perpendicular distancebetween the side edges of the upper and the lower portions and of a height equal to the perpendicular distance between the parallel shoulders of each pair thereof.

4. A flexible roofing shinglehaving parallel ends and'parallel sides, one portion, which is substantially one half the length of the shingle, being wider than the other portion, and defined therefrom by a double shoulder on each side, the narrower portion having notches cut therein on both sides near its extremity, and said narrower portion being underfolded near its extremity.

5. A flexible roofing shingle having parallel ends and parallel sides, one portion which is substantially one half the length of the shingle, being wider than the other portion and defined therefrom by a double shoulder on each side, the narrower portion having notches cut therein on both sides near its extremity to form two laterally extending tabs, and said narrower portion being underfolded on a transverse line in alignment with the upper edge of said tabs.

6. A roof comprising interlocked shingles, each shingle having parallel ends and parallel sides, one portion, which is substantially one half the length of the shingle being wider than the other portion and defined therefrom by a double shoulder on each side, the

narrower portion having tabs extending laterally near the extremity thereof and adapted to engage with one of the shoulders of similar laterally adjacent shingles of the lower course.

7. A roof comprising interlocked shingles, each shingle having parallel ends and parallel. sides, one portion of which is substantially one half the length of the shingle being wider than the other portion and is defined therefrom by a pair of spaced shoulders on each side, the other portion having notches out near the extremity thereof to' form laterally extending tabs, said portion being underfolded on a transverse line near its extremity so. that doubled thickness tabs are formed thereb adapted to engage either shingles of a lower course.

8. A roof comprising interlocked shingles,

each shingle having parallel ends and parallel sides, one portion which is substantially one half the length'of the shin 1e being wider than the other portion and de ned therefrom by a double shoulder on each side, the narrower portion havin notches out near the extremity thereof, sai narrower portion being underfolded on the transverse line joining said notches, said notches engaging the shoulders of laterally adjacent shingles of a lower course. a ,7

In testimony whereof I have'aflixed my signature.

I I WILLIAM A.'HARRIS.

100 one of the shoul ers of laterally adjacent 

